Reaction to 2025 Leaving Certificate Irish Paper 2 (Higher Level) by Nuala Uí Cheallaigh, Irish teacher at The Institute of Education.
- Broad questions allow students lots of opportunities, but they would need to focus their approach to avoid losing track of time.
Paper 2 was a lovely continuation of previous papers. It had broad questions like those on Paper 1 which will allow students to adapt their material, as well as providing questions in line with those from past papers. The unseen comprehensions offered topical takes on ever-popular themes: music and sport. The texts themselves contain rather typical vocabulary, but the occasional wordy question will have required students to carefully parse out exactly what they were being asked. The answer material itself was readily discernible once both the relevant paragraph and the question were watchfully reread. This is where students looking for the top marks could start to stand out.
Moving into the prescribed section, the inclusion of Hurlamaboc and Oisín I dTír na nÓg will have been welcomed by those hoping it was their turn to appear. The former’s question may have caused some to pause momentarily if they didn’t recognise the term “díomhaoin” (idle) but those who simply outlined the main aspect of the character would have been incidentally on topic. The Oisín question was a nice and straightforward piece on the nature of the hero – something anyone preparing the text before the exam will be familiar with.
For poetry, both “Colscaradh” and “An Scailpín Fánach” were both highly anticipated. The questions were in line with previous years but students looking to optimize their marks in this section would need to be attuned to the effects of the techniques asked in the middle question. The Litriocht Bhreise also offered very broad and approachable questions. Those who prepared An Triail will have ample choice of material in exploring the women’s failure to understand Maire’s circumstances, with at least 3 key characters jumping to mind. Those doing A Thig Ná Tit Orm would have needed to focus on the specific positive moments of the author’s recollections but will have several moments to explore the requisite joy and shenanigans. Those who studied Gafa will find their question reflecting the very core of the story in an accessible way and doing the Dánta Breise will be pleased with “Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire”, making an anticipated return to the paper after last appearing in 2022.
This paper really allowed students to demonstrate their work and grasp of the material in a very open and fair way. The real challenge will be the exam discipline necessary to make the most effective use of the tight timing by selecting and editing what to cover and what to exclude.